No-Salt Dyeing Behaviour of Cationized Linen Fabrics Available to Purchase

Linen fabrics were cationized using 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride in alkaline medium. The cationized linen fabrics were dyed independently, with different dyestuffs, namely reactive, direct and acid dyes in absence of salt (no-salt dyed). Factors affecting the nosalt dyeing process of cationized linen fabrics were investigated. These factors included dye concentration, pH of the dyeing bath, dyeing temperature and time as well as the chemical nature of the dyes used. The dyed samples were monitored for color strength (K/S) after soaping and after DMF extraction as well as fastness properties. It was found that for all dyestuffs used, the magnitude of K/S of the dyed samples depends on the nature of the dyes and the conditions used in each case. It was also seen that for no-salt dyeing of cationized linen fabrics, the maximum K/S was achieved at dye shade 2.5 % (ows) and dye bath’s pH 7-9, at 60°C for 20 minutes. In addition to this, the color strength was much higher in case of cationized and no-salt dyed samples compared with the uncationized and traditionally salt-dyed linen fabrics; meanwhile, the overall fastness properties were comparable. Microscopic examination of the cationized and no-salt dyed linen fabrics showed an excellent dye penetration and no evidence for the ring dye phenomena was observed.